About argos.co.uk

Argos has been a British catalogue retailer since the early 1970s and is now part of the Sainsbury's group. The printed catalogue has gone; the model behind it has not.

That model is the point of difference. Argos holds stock locally rather than only in a central warehouse, so its answer to "can I have it today" is genuinely different from most online retailers.

What they sell

Technology, appliances, furniture, garden, toys, sports equipment, jewellery, homeware and seasonal ranges, across both national brands and its own labels such as Habitat.

The breadth is unusual. Few retailers sell a washing machine, a trampoline and an engagement ring from the same basket.

Collection, delivery and stock

Check stock by store before travelling, because availability is shown per location and moves through the day. Reserving online holds the item; browsing the website does not.

Many collection points now sit inside Sainsbury's supermarkets rather than in standalone shops, so confirm which type of location you are going to and its opening hours.

For large items, book the delivery slot rather than assuming a standard courier. Anything requiring two people to carry is scheduled differently from a parcel.

Before you buy the big things

Measure the doorway, the stairs and the turn at the top before ordering furniture or a large appliance. Delivery teams will not remove doors, and an item that cannot get in goes back.

On appliances, check whether installation and old-appliance removal are included or sold separately, and check the energy label rather than the headline feature list.

Keep the order number and the receipt together: warranty claims on catalogue purchases are handled by order reference rather than by product serial number.

Using an argos.co.uk discount code

Apply the code before choosing collection or delivery, since the option you pick can change which promotions are available. Clearance lines, gift cards and some major brands are the usual exclusions.